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Louisiana

The national wave of “Occupy” actions, begun on Wall Street in September, has spread to New Orleans.“Occupy NOLA” began with an almost joyous march through the city, and continues now in a more than two-week-old encampment outside of City Hall.

Press release from Operation People for Peace Inc. Houma, LA (October 19, 2011) - Dick Gregory-Actor/Comedian and Human rights Activist, Dr. E. Faye Williams, National Congress of Black Women-Chair, and Art Rocker, Operation People for Peace-Chair are convening a meeting with ministers, community activist, and others in Houma, Louisiana concerning the lack of payments by BP’s Ken Feinberg. This meeting will be held Wednesday, October 19, 2011 at New Rising Sun Baptist Church at 230 Saint Charles St. Houma, Louisiana 70361 with Facilitator -Rev. Byron Clay, Jr.

In far New Orleans East, between Lake Pontchartrain and I-10, sits the forgotten community Little Woods. Since Katrina, few resources and programs of assistance have reached this community, which is 95% Black.

Last Friday in New Orleans’ French Quarter, chants of “Justice for Troy” and “Too much Doubt! Let him out!” interrupted the early-evening partiers and tourists.

A march, about 100 strong, wound its way through the Quarter, calling for justice for Troy Davis and the abolition of the death penalty. Davis is scheduled to be executed this Wednesday, September 21st, despite considerable doubt about his guilt.

The Norwood Thompson playground is a gathering place for all ages in Gert Town. It is a place of fellowship for residents of this New Orleans neighborhood, and provides a break for working mothers to spend time with their children.

But it is also destined and designed as an accident waiting to happen. As you will hear and see from the children and adults who use it, the playground is an environmental health hazard.

Right after Hurricane Katrina, newly homeless New Orleanians gathered on Claiborne Avenue under Interstate 10, and lived under tents and blankets. Some worked in hotels in the French Quarter and the Central Business District, but still didn’t make enough to pay for a place to live. For a time, their numbers went down. But now, six years after the storm, homeless folks are under the Claiborne Bridge, and under the Earhart Bridge, in large numbers again.